Thread: Help! Is it a sleep disorder or...?

Consider these questions.

How long has this been going on?
Do you sleep within set hours? (ie. 10pm-6am most nights)
If so, have those hours changed?
Has your diet changed? Do you eat right before bed? More sugar/caffeine?
Are you under more stress?
Has your schedule (sleep, school/work, etc.) changed?
Do you have a lot on your mind or worry more than usual?
Do you frequently wake up at night?
Do you have a routine before going to bed?
Have you been playing video games or watching movies before bed? (mentally stimulating)
Have you been sick recently?
Does your family have a history of sleeping problems?

All those things can factor into why you're having problems sleeping. If it's been an issue for more than three weeks to a month, go see a physician and see if there's something physically going on.

If you're not in a bed-time routine right now, I'd advise getting into one. Personally, I take my contacts out, brush my teeth, read a little bit, and then go to sleep. Depending on what I'm reading, my body knows that when I do those things, it's time to begin to relax and get ready for bed. Some take some time to meditate or write in a journal.

I'm not a physician, but I just know there are a lot of things that can influence whether or not you get a good night's sleep. The more stressed out you let yourself become, the less quality sleep you'll get, so the first step is to just try and relax. Take a few deep breaths, let go of the troubles of the day (you're going to bed and there's nothing you can do about them until the morning), turn on some relaxing music if that helps, and just let your mind drift somewhere comfortable.

This is interresting.

I sleep the 8 hours I'm suppose to sleep but I have bags under my eyes and I don't feel tired.

It has been going for a long time (more than a year)

Well, my disorder is not so bad because I normally fall asleep after 1h30 minutes. It's just that it seems that everyone can just fall asleep the second they touch their pillow (I'm exagerating). I'm not the kind of person to stress out. But sometimes I have Stressing Dreams. I called them like that. It's when I have dreams that stress me out. Their not nightmares but their annoying. They stop me from falling asleep. The most vivd memory of one I still have would be this one: I would be on the couch trying to make a puzzle, I would drop them on the floor and they would be too big for me to assemble them and I would freak out and I think I even tried to eat them but they were to big. Anyways. It is rare that I get them but when I do I can't sleep at all during that night. Well, I do since I get these dreams but it's complicated and it's off topic so. Anyways, if it doesn't seem to be a disorder but just a part of me, maybe someone has tricks as "drink water or milk before going to bed" or like you said to have something you do before going to bed that tells your brain that it is time to relax...

Originally Posted by SleepyCookieDough

This is interresting.

I sleep the 8 hours I'm suppose to sleep but I have bags under my eyes and I don't feel tired.

It has been going for a long time (more than a year)

Well, my disorder is not so bad because I normally fall asleep after 1h30 minutes. It's just that it seems that everyone can just fall asleep the second they touch their pillow (I'm exagerating). I'm not the kind of person to stress out. But sometimes I have Stressing Dreams. I called them like that. It's when I have dreams that stress me out. Their not nightmares but their annoying. They stop me from falling asleep. The most vivd memory of one I still have would be this one: I would be on the couch trying to make a puzzle, I would drop them on the floor and they would be too big for me to assemble them and I would freak out and I think I even tried to eat them but they were to big. Anyways. It is rare that I get them but when I do I can't sleep at all during that night. Well, I do since I get these dreams but it's complicated and it's off topic so. Anyways, if it doesn't seem to be a disorder but just a part of me, maybe someone has tricks as "drink water or milk before going to bed" or like you said to have something you do before going to bed that tells your brain that it is time to relax...

If it's been more than a year, I'd recommend going in and seeing a physician. You don't have to start taking sleeping pills and all that jazz, but they could run some tests and see if there's something going on. My dad's struggled with not getting a good night's sleep for years and it made him miserable (though he didn't show it). The combination of a good bed with some good mattresses and a breathing machine to help him with his sleep apnea has done wonders for him. There's no reason you shouldn't get a good night's sleep.

I've had "anxiety dreams" as well where I just wake up frustrated or angry or sad for some reason or another. I hate those dreams and thankfully I don't get them very often. If you have them all the time, it's possible that something might be going on psychologically.

In the meantime, I think that practicing lucid dreaming could actually help you. It helps you to realize when you're dreaming, so that if you find yourself in a stressful situation, you can know it's a dream and change it to something more enjoyable. If you do wake up stressed out, it's important to just take a few minutes to take some deep breaths and put aside what just happened before you try to go back to sleep. Anxiety kills relaxation (obviously) and dream recall. If you can empty your mind or focus on something else, you'll probably be better off.

Try reading (nothing super anxiety-laden like a horror novel or something along those lines), watching a little bit of TV, or listen to some calming music (some of those generic CDs from Wal-Mart by the candles are pretty good). You could try tracking some of your dreams to see if there are patterns that emerge.

I can't think of anything else at the moment, but perhaps someone else might have some advice. There are a number of insomniacs on this site, so I'm sure you could find more information without a problem.

i have the same problem, but mine takes about 45 mins. I normaly go to bed @ 10:00 and fall asleep at about 10:30-:50. But if i have a test the next day and i'm stressed, sometimes i can stay up untill 12:00. i wake up to an alarm @ 7:01 and start getting reaedy for school at 7:36, so going to bed late can be a problem. one thing that helped me was when i was sick i had a horrible cough, so my dad who is a pharmasist (is that how you spell it?) gave me Benadryl(Diphenhydramine) for my cough and it makes you drowsy. I started going to bed in about 15 mins. BUT I DONT RECOMEND USEING IT WITHOUT BEING SICK.

I see there's no real way against this then... Let's just hope it goes away by itself...

Originally Posted by SleepyCookieDough

I see there's no real way against this then... Let's just hope it goes away by itself...

It's been going on for a year. If it hasn't gone away on its own by now, you should do something about it. At least go in and see what a physician says. You don't have to commit yourself to anything, but at least see if you find out if there's something going on that can be corrected.

I'll see about that... thank you

I used to be extremely annoyed with myself. I would be playing a video game or posting on forums and fall promptly asleep. I'd tell myself: "Okay, you're sleepy, so go to bed." And I would. But then I would lay there and sleep would evade me.
I finally learned what was going on.
I've been taking meds for severe anxiety for many years but I still replay things in my head all the time, unless my brain is otherwise occupied. So playing video games knocks me right out because there's nothing else rattling between my ears. But the second I stopped playing, the internal dialogue would start right back up.
Now, I play Puzzle Quest on my PSP in bed until I fall asleep. Then I turn it off and go right to sleep. The act of walking from my desk to my bed woke me up too much. But if I don't move, I'm okay
Another thing which hindered sleep was people telling me what hours I should keep and going to bed when I wasn't sleepy. Now that I'm able to keep my natural schedule (normally 3AM-10:30AM) I don't have much problems falling asleep.

Stressful dreams are usually messages we should listen to. A lot of times I don't realize the stress I'm under until I listen to my dreams. So deffinately listen to your dreams- your subconscious is trying to make you aware of something.

I still recommend seeing a doctor though. If you've tried everything and still have problems there could be more going on (like simple anemia).

It sounds a lot like insomnia.

Its okay now. Since I've tried SPs I fall asleep really easily (I have never gotten to do an SP but I was really close and when I moved, my arms hurt and felt burning hot, all numb and stuff) but at least I fall asleep way faster and my excitement to LD makes sleeping so more exciting...

How do you do 3AM to 10AM, don't you have school?

What is SP?
As for school.... THANK GOD, no. I'm 34 years old and well past all that ;p
Glad to hear you're sleeping better!

Originally Posted by Zhaylin

What is SP?!

SP stands for Sleep Paralisis (or something similar). it is really helpful to enter a WILD. You get SPs when your body falls asleep, we all do, when we sleep, but the way I do it (and many people on this site) is that I keep my mind awake while the body is asleep. i have myself never had this experience but it helps me fall asleep so I jsut di it

Originally Posted by Zhaylin

As for school.... THANK GOD, no. I'm 34 years old and well past all that ;p

OK, that makes more sense...
3AM, you like staying awake at night...? I myself enjoy night... I really like when its dark outside, its feels so relaxing

What is WILD?

I screwed up my cicadia (sp) rythm at a very young age. I'm a highly empathetic introvert but my family was anything BUT. They fight like crazy practically every day from the moment they woke up til they went to bed. Because of that I cannot handle "chaos". So I started turning to the night for peace, silence and meditation. I was sneaking out of the house as a young teen, simply to be alone and be at peace. As a result, I would sleep through most of my classes at school, but my nightly habit was a matter of emotional survival.
When I had all my kids at home, I was always tremendously sleep deprived. I had to care for them, the house etc and never got a lick of peace until they went to bed. I would stay awake until I couldn't keep my eyes open then I'd sleep for an entire day or two.
They've recently been taken away from me and placed in a shelter and foster care (which I'm fighting and is a very long/mostly boring story). But with them gone, my health and sleep habits have improved dramatically. My spirituality and peace of mind, however, is on an ever deepening decline.
When I get them back, I know I'll fall into the same bad habits. I CANNOT change my sleep pattern. I've had it for over 20 years. But it'll be worth it to get them back

I used to write poems and stories at night and I loved sitting outside in the dark and whistling. The way my tones vibrated with the sound of the night insects was amazing
Now, however, I've lost my creativity to World Of Warcraft and internet forums lol.

What?!? Your children have been taken away? Why? Because you sleep two days in a row and have sleeping problems? Do you have a husband to help you out? Your situaton seems pretty depressing. How old are your children? One day, they'll grow and the house will be calmer... If you're not too protective.

Your life is really interresting. (I like people who've leaved through hard moments, there so more interresting) I myself always try to depart myself from this world... I mean, the other people I see every day... Well, I'm not anti-social or anything, its just that sometimes people really get to my nerve. They don't put themselves in the other people's shoe and there so rude. I have my own problems, they don't have much to do with chaos but its as bad.

A WILD means Wake Induced Lucid Dream, meaning that you will make your body fall asleep but keep your mind awake (SP) and then as your sleep cycle goes, you'll start your dream... That may be lucid since you start from an awake phase...

Getting back on "your life" topic... So you've screwed your sleep cycle? It used to take me 1hour and 30 minutes to fall asleep but then I started trying to SP and then I started falling asleep easier... oh and wait! I've already explained this on this topic! lol! I'm lost!! I mean, since I've started all this lucid stuff, just before going to bed I repeat to myself "I will wake up after each of my dream and remember it completly" It sort of works. YOu should try saying "I will wake up after each of my dreams" that way you can be sure not to skip a day... Are you in some sort of coma every night? I'm sorry this comfuses me...

lol- no coma, just exhaustion. I had a sleep study done recently because I was starting to think I had narcolepsy. Even if I'm completely rested, if I'm driving or anxious, I go into a cataplexic type state. I start seeing two realities- a dream is foremost in my vision but the road (or other surroundings) is in the background, as if behind a screen. Then I start having trouble breathing (I feel like I have to yawn to get a full lung of air), then my body starts going numb (first around my nose and mouth and then one side of my body); my body then starts to slump and when I talk my voice is slurred as if drunk. Then, I'll fall completely and deeply asleep.
Driving our 40 foot long RV with 20 foot long car trailer in tow through Atlanta City during rush hour and falling asleep behind the wheel, finally scared me enough to get help. Everyone wrote my symptoms off as anxiety and since I've been on meds (several years), I no longer have that problem.
But I was still very curious why I start dreaming the second I fall asleep, so I looked it up and it's a symptom of narcolepsy. But when I spoke with the Sleep Specialist, he told me it's also a symptom of severe sleep deprivation. But this happens even when I'm completely rested.
I'm hoping I do have some sort of sleep disorder so I can present it to the court.

My kids were taken away because I left the 3 oldest ones alone when we left several states away. My youngest stayed with a friend and the friends mom was to check in on the other kids every day. When they went to the house though, our fate was sealed. My kids are very disruptive. The house was utterly FILTHY. Because the dog is the pet of my youngest, the others didn't let her outside and she and the cat crapped all over the house. But it's not the house we live in. This past summer we had moved to our country home which is completely clean but the court doesn't care and I don't completely blame them. They were only in the filthy home because it's close to town.
My boys are 16 and 14 and my girls are 13 and 12.
I'm actually not in the least bit interesting lol. I've had a few experiences, but (THANKFULLY) not many. I tend to keep to myself, for the most part, too. I'm extremely open and honest and I make friends easily, but keeping them is hard because I'm a home-body.
My hubby and I live in separate homes because he can't handle pets and kids. But we make dates to spend together and to get together as a family. He supports us financially.

And now I've hijacked your thread. I created an intro on the newbie page, so I can move this there.

Thanks for explaining the abbreviations to me! I'm a little lost over some of them lol

Ok, I'll answer on the new thread you've made

I never get a good night sleep

I tell you what, drink a cup of chamomile tea with two tea bags. I was out like a light.

Originally Posted by hellohihello

I never get a good night sleep

I tell you what, drink a cup of chamomile tea with two tea bags. I was out like a light.

Thank you

Personnaly I don't like tea... Wait, no... I do like tea but I don't drink it much of the time... The point is, I've started doing SP and I fall asleep so easier!

Thanks for replying to my thread

SP's always freak me out. They're always accompanied by feelings of demonic fear. I think it's awesome that you can trigger them and aren't frightened by them!

I'm a weird person. i love weird feelings. I enjoy them so much and just because I enjoy them, I'm not terrified and so there not bad experience and so I can enjoy them It's almost like eating something that you don't like. Tell yourself that you like it and try to find a positive taste in the taste and try enjoying, try seeing the beaty out of the meal and you're brain will tell you that you like it and you'll like it.

Look at your signature and avitar.
Do these represent your lifestyle?

You sound like my hubby
No matter how often I try, though, I cannot get used to foie gras or blue cheese. Likewise, I don't think I could ever get used to the erieness of SP which makes me admire you all the more

Originally Posted by magical mike

Look at your signature and avitar.
Do these represent your lifestyle?

I don't really understand what you mean.... Yeah, I like elephants and trempolines but no, I'm not fat and I don't jump endlessly

Originally Posted by Zhaylin

You sound like my hubby
No matter how often I try, though, I cannot get used to foie gras or blue cheese. Likewise, I don't think I could ever get used to the erieness of SP which makes me admire you all the more

LOL! Probably same for me, I was talking about the only cookie I didn't like and since I did that, it became my favorite!

Thanks, for the response in "Newbie zone" lol!

LOL nm..
You should probably ask your doctor ;D